Hill Dwarf Backgrounds

Hill Dwarves

The Hill Dwarf settlements are cosmopolitan places having provided a home for refugees from fallen Mountain Dwarf Vaults and Elven Holds for centuries. They are also now filled with mercenaries to help fight, or loot the old Dwarven goods.

Illustration by Russ Nicholson

1d6	Ideal
1	I strive to be an expert in my Class.
2	I prefer stability to anything else, if giving in a little will make life easier we should do it.
3	Hard work. I believe enlightenment comes from constant, miserable, hard work.
4	Joy when you can find it, and afford it. That usually means booze and food.
5	Honesty. If I catch you in a lie I won't trust you entirely, ever.
6	Diligence. Get the job done, do it right, do it well.

1d6	Bond
1	I am indebted to the alliance, to the Wood Elf patrols that keep the horde away, to the High Elf Mages that work their magic to defend us, to the humans who put their lives on the line to defend our Vault, and to the Halflings that have kept everyone well fed despite everything.
2	I am bonded to my House. A Dwarves House is everything and anyone that tells you differently is being untruthful.
3	I would do anything to recover Religious artifacts left behind in fallen Vaults.
4	I am loyal to our King and will do whatever he commands.
5	My vault fell to the Horde, family and friends are gone, I live for revenge.
6	The Mountain Dwarves slaughtered an insane number of Orcs and Goblins before their Vaults fell. Because of that we might actually survive. I am indebted to them.

1d6	Flaw
1	I'm obsessed with recovering Dwarven treasures and returning their original owner (Dwarven House). I expect money for returning the goods, however, but that's rarely a problem.
2	I can't handle Elf food. Eating weeds and bark makes me violently ill.
3	I'm a fanatic when it comes to the cleaning and preparing my equipment. I'll spend a short rest sharpening my axe to the point that I have to replace my stuff often.
4	I'm stubborn and will try the same thing over and over despite failing each time.
5	I don't like Elves. I'll tolerate them if necessary but they didn't help when needed despite promises. I don't know if they are corrupt or cowards.
6	I like Ale, ale, ale, ale.

Crafter, Apprentice

Your have spent your early life in the crafting trade and guild house. You've crafted yourself a bit but most of the time it was cleaning and lugging things around, and studying others.

Proficiencies: Craft (pick one), Persuasion

Equipment: Diploma certifying completion of Apprenticeship. set of crafting tools, and a pouch containing 20 gp

Perks: You can gain temporary short term loans from the Crafting Guild. Also the guild will act as a source of ready and cheap information for town rumors.

Grunt (From Ba5ic)

You have spent your early life guarding the walls and escorting refugees. 

Proficiencies: Athletics, Intimidation

Equipment: An insignia of rank, a trophy taken off a battlefield, a gaming set, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp

Perks: You have military rank that will be recognized by other Dwarves. Grunts will recognize your authority and defer to it if of a lower rank. You can invoke their rank to requisition simple equipment or mounts for temporary use. You can usually gain access to military encampments or fortresses where their rank is recognized.

Miner

Your have spent your early life in the mines. This was no internship but brutal, honest work. You used the pick-axe to split the limestone, you loaded ore and rock on the mining cart, and you learned to read the rock.

Proficiencies: Mining Tools, Masonry (increased chance to spot secret doors and sloping paths)

Equipment: Mining Tools, Tattered and filthy clothing with patches to indicate Mining Guild, and a pouch containing 200 gp

Perks: Brotherhood, you can expect any Dwarf miners present to back you up in the case of a brawl.

Monk, Scholastic (From Ba5ic)

You have spent your early life as a seeker of enlightenment.

Proficiencies: Medicine, Herbalism

Equipment: A holy symbol, a prayer rope, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 5 gp

Perks: As a monastic, you can expect to find a place to hide, rest or recuperate at a monastery or with other monks. They will shield you from danger, though they might not put themselves in danger.

Paladin (From Ba5ic)

You have spent your early life as a member of a military order dedicated to the fighting the horde. It was mostly scrubbing floors, taking care of mounts, and praying but still...

Proficiencies: Animal Handling, Persuasion 

Equipment: A set of fine clothes marked with your military order, and a pouch containing 25 gp 

Perks: People are inclined to think the best of you and assume you have a right to be where ever you are. Commoners will treat you with respect and nobles will treat you as an equal. If there is a need, you can secure an audience with a local noble.

* Ba5ic game at DriveThru. ba5ic OGL License. The only game that really did something with Backgrounds so credit where credit is due.